When talking about Siberian cats, their hypoallergenicity is often mentioned. However, according to experts, this statement does not provide a complete guarantee that an allergic reaction cannot occur when coming into contact with cats of this breed.
In fact, most people are not allergic to the cat’s hair, but to a protein in its saliva. The cat spends much of the day grooming itself, spreading protein all over its fur with its saliva. Since the cat loses hair when it is stroked or when the allergen is otherwise dispersed in the air, sensitive people react immediately: sneezing fits, watery eyes, skin and eye irritations occur.
Most Siberians have a lower level of Fel d 1 protein in their saliva, which gives them th reputation of being hypoallergenic. However, as 1) not every cat produces the same amount of this protein and 2) it may not be the only cause of allergy, we recomment that you check with the breeder beforehand and be sure to visit the cattery before choosing a kitten.
Hair samples from a particular cat can serve as material for examination by an allergist.
Many of our club members have extensive positive experience with families where there is a cat allergy. A large number of Siberian and Neva Masquerade kittens live happily in appropriate families and do not cause any allergic reaction.
Most feline organisations define the Siberian and Neva Masquerade breeds as one breed, the only difference being the so-called points. The Fifé (Fédération Internationale féline), to which our club also belongs, separates them into two breeds approved for crossbreeding.
Body
According to the standard, Siberians and Neva Masquerades are medium to large sized cats. The normal weight of males is 6 – 9kg, for females 4 – 5.5kg. Their body is strong and massive on powerful legs of medium length. The paws are round and have tufts of hair between the toes, these “snow shoes” are designed to make the cats sink less in the high snow.
Head and eyes
The head is large and has the shape of a broad, rounded trapezium. The ears are medium sized and rounded; they rarely have – although desired by the standard – tufts at the tips (this makes the rounded ears appear rather pointed).
The eyes of the Siberian and Neva Masquerade cats are medium sized, rounded and expressive. The eye colour of the Siberian (all shades of green and yellow are permitted) does not depend on the coat colour.In Neva Masquerade cats the eye colour is blue with varying intensity, but the darker the more popular.
Fur
The most characteristic features of these breeds are the abundant, double and water-repellent undercoat and the semi-long outer coat with a grippy texture. The amount of undercoat depends on the season, in spring it is shed (coat change) and in late autumn it grows back luxuriantly. The standard is mostly oriented towards the winter coat and states: The collar on the neck, the knickers (similar to knickerbockers) on the hind legs and the tail are very fluffy.
Development
They are usually not fully developed until they are three years old. From this age, they have fully developed their eye and coat colour and their great coat quality and are magnificent to look at.
As specialised zoologists and felinologists as well as researchers of the history of the Siberian breed assume, the exact description and the name “Siberian cat” appeared at the beginning of the 16th century.
Siberian cats owe their direct origin to their Central Asian ancestors, the so-called “Bukhara cats”, which lived on the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the 15th century and were distinguished by their size and excellent hunting quality.
Thanks to the development of trade relations (the traders’ caravan route, Silk Road), Bukhara cats spread throughout Siberia over time. It is believed that the origin of today’s ‘Siberians’, are matings of Bukhara cats with native Siberian forest cats, as wild specimens lived in the harsh Siberian taiga. It was these natural conditions that contributed to the formation of dense, long and beautiful hair in these cats. Thus, Siberian cats belong to the forest cat genotype according to their origin, although they share a common Central Asian ancestor. As a result, the ‘Siberian’ was included in many Russian folk tales as a prototype cat.
For many centuries, the Siberian cat remained the favourite pet of many Russian inhabitants. However, official recognition of the breed did not take place until the end of the 20th century. It was not until 1987 that the Siberian cat breed was officially registered in the USSR. Two years later, the breed was firmly included in the list of new breeds of the Felinological Federation of the USSR.
The fenologist Olga Mironova (St. Petersburg, Russia) was instrumental in the creation of a breed standard for Siberian cats. In 1991 this standard was accepted by the World Cat Federation (WCF). Three years later, the organisation recognised the standard as official.
In 1996 the breed was recognised by the American organisation TICA and one year later by another renowned feline association – FIFé. Thus the Siberian breed, called ‘Siberian’ for short, gained worldwide fame.
Since 1992, the Siberian cat has been actively participating in shows at various levels and the breed standard is being finalised. Mono shows are held. The Siberian cat becomes known and popular among a large number of breeders all over the world.
The Neva Masquerade or Neva Masquarade breed was created by Russian breeders by selecting Siberian cats and colour point cats (Persians). This resulting cat got its name because of its occurrence in Leningrad (St. Petersburg, the city through which the river Neva flows) and its facial markings, which resemble a mask, and its paws, similar to gloves.
The spread of the Neva Masquarade cats across countries and continents was accompanied by the adoption of their standard in felinological organisations:
together with the Siberian cat, it was recognised: 1999 – in the ‘Cat Fanciers Association’ (CFA) 2002 – in the ‘Governing Council of the Cat Fancy’ (GCCF);
as an independent colour within the Siberian breed: 1997 – in ‘The International Cat Association’ (TICA), with admission to shows in 2002, 2002 – in the ‘WORLD CAT FEDERATION’ WCF;
as an independent breed: 2010 – in the Russian Org. ‘International Alliance of Felinologists’ (Alliance SuperCats, ASC). 2011 – in the FIFé, Fédération international Féline
